Lewis Marnell Tribute: ONE LOVE

As most of us know, professional skateboarder Lewis Marnell died earlier this year on January 18th, following complications related to Type 1 diabetes. It was a condition that he was diagnosed with when he was 10 years old. The global skateboarding community was shocked and saddened by this tragic news. We were in disbelief that someone – one of us, so young and gifted and well-known and liked, was suddenly gone. The days, weeks, and months of our lives continue elapse as Lewis’ life of skateboarding lives on in all of us.

Be sure to consider and appreciate those people that you share great moments with in your life. Let them know that your life is better or enriched by them.

The words below are from Lewis’ friend and cinematographer and editor Jason Hernandez who put together this “One Love” video in tribute of Lewis Marnell’s good vibes and legacy.

We lost a skateboarder, a friend, and most of all, a truly good person.
Lewis lived his life with Diabetes, the kind were you’d need to check your blood for it’s insulin levels and give your self a shot sometimes twice a day. Oh he’d let you know every day he had diabetes :) he’d ask before every spot, “Oi – how far is the nearest store, Oi – I need to eat, Oi – how long are we gonna be here? I need food” I look back at this and smile, at the time I’d be like, “c-mon really…?” He was really good a misplacing his insulin pen, I helped him find it quite a few times, and remember how psyched he’d be to find it under his mess of shopping bags he’d bring on every session, OHHHH the shopping bags – they’d be rustling around making all sorts of noise in the car, hotel room; he’d have all his gummy worms, sour patch kids, all sorts of sugary foods to keep his levels were they needed to be.

Lewis was legitimately a good person, he cared about what was going on in your life, he’d stop to talk with anyone, I mean anyone… A bum, the random lurker you don’t want to talk to at the spot, anyone… We’d always be waiting on him because he met some new friend at the skate spot/or wherever we stopped the car.

I miss you Lewis. I hate to say I truly took you for granted and am sorry for every time I made you eat Subway cause I couldn’t figure out your diet; I wish I could tell you all this in person… but I can’t. So next time, I will try and let the people I see daily know that I appreciate them, and stop to talk with them just a little longer.
R.I.P Lewis